Chasing a formidable total of 175 set by the Lahore Qalandars, the opening pair of Muhammad Akhlaq and Shan Masood for the Karachi Kings appeared ready to kickstart their innings with vigor.
However, their hopes encountered an immediate challenge as Zaman Khan bowled a superb first over, restricting the Kings’ batsmen to just two runs and establishing a tone of formidable bowling from the onset.
Nevertheless, the Qalandars’ determination yielded results swiftly as they clinched a wicket in the subsequent over, courtesy of exceptional fielding prowess.
As the third over neared its conclusion, Lahore’s captain Shaheen Shah Afridi delivered a back-of-a-length delivery to Akhlaq. With determination, Akhlaq drove the ball towards extra short cover, initially signaling for a run but quickly retracting, leaving his partner Shan Masood stranded mid-pitch.
— Shanaka Kundu (@KunduShanaka) February 24, 2024
In the ensuing chaos, Farhan, positioned at short extra cover, swiftly pounced on the ball, delivering a precise throw that demolished the stumps with Masood inches away despite a desperate dive.
Amidst the electrifying atmosphere of a packed Gaddafi Stadium, which had just witnessed an impressive batting display, the crowd erupted once more, this time in appreciation of Farhan’s outstanding fielding brilliance.